the Muslims astray, and the latter are told to be patient and forgiving:
Many of the people of the Book desire to bring you back to unbelief after
ye have believed, out of selfish envy, even after the truth hath been clearly
shown to them. But forgive them and shun them till God shall come in with His
working. Truly God hath power over all things. Sura Al-Baqarah (ii) 103.
According to the commentators Mu'alim and Mazhar the Jews were those who,
after the defeat of the Muslims in the battle of Uhud, reproached them and said
that it proved their religion to be false. They were to be patient with them
till the order for killing came. Other commentators say it is abrogated by the
verse of Jihad.1
Husain interprets the words 'till God shall come in with His working,' 2
as meaning 'till the time when God brings the order for killing or for the
imposition of the jizya, or poll-tax.'
Thus it is clear that, however desirous Muhammad may have been, when his
position was weakened after his defeat at Uhud, to conciliate